Vertical screw press



May 22, 1962 11w. HAYES 3,0

VERTICAL SCREW PRESS Filed April 12, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet l F'I I3 l IBQ|3l use 132 I35 INVENTOR DUDLEY W. HAYES ATTORNEY May 22, 1962 D. w.HAYES 3,035,511

' VERTICAL SCREW PRESS Filed April 12, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 INVENTORDUDLEY W. HAYES M 0 BY AM 5.

ATTORNEY y 22, 1962 D. w. HAYES 3,035,511

VERTICAL SCREW PRESS Filed April 12, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 57 I 8)| 8O-55 5g 95 56 g2 63 O a? 55 O) 77 1 INVENTOR DUDLEY W. HAYES 1962 D. w.HAYES 3,035,511

VERTICAL SCREW PRESS Filed April 12, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet O F I E ElINVENTOR DUDLEY W. HAYES svwgr/ ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,035,511VERTICAL SCREW PRESS Dudley W. Hayes, San Jose, Calif., assignor to FMCCorporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 12, 1956, Ser. No.577,696 15 Claims. (1. 100-117) This invention pertains to improvementsin presses and more specifically relates to an improved continuous pressof the screw type for the expressing of liquids from solids.

The improved press of the instant invention finds particular utility inpaper and pulp mills for removing liquids from pulp, and in foodprocessing plants for removing the juices from various fruits orvegetables, or from the waste products resulting from other processingof said fruits or vegetables.

One object of the invention is to provide a press wherein the effluentflows in a direction counter to the direction of the flow of thematerial being pressed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a press having a moreeflicient and flexible control of the pressure exerted within the pressthan heretofore obtainable in presses of similar type.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a continuous presswhich is self-priming.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a press embodying the principles of thepresent.invention, with one-half of the outer screen removed and certainof the parts shown in section.

PEG. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the upper portion of themachine shown in FIG. 1, the section being taken substantially on adiametrical plane with certain parts shown in elevation.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical section of the lower portion of themachine shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section taken along line 44 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section of FIG. 1 taken along line 55 thereof.

FIG. 6 is a horizontal section taken along line 66 of FIG. 3.

'FIG. 7 is a vertical section taken along line 77 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a section of a portion of FIG. 6 taken along line 88 thereof.

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective showing the power train of the drivemechanism of the press.

In general the press illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises an outer screen 10and a cone-shaped screw assembly 12 mounted coaxially therewithin. Thematerial to be pressed is introduced to the press adjacent the bottomthereof by a conveyor 13. The material is moved up wardly through thepress, between the outer annular screen 10 and the cone-shaped screwassembly 12, by rotation of the screw assembly. The liquid expressedthrough the screen 10 flows downwardly along the outer side thereof andis collected in an annular trough 14 surrounding the lower end of thescreen. The solid material is expelled from the upper end of the screen10 into an annular pan 15. The working pressure within the press iscontrolled by a choke assembly 16 which cooperates with the upper end ofthe screen 10 to restrict the flow of the solid material therefrom.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a

rive housing 11 is supported on the upper ends of three verticalstandards 20, 21 and 22 which rest on the floor or any suitable base. Amain gear 25, having a .hub 30 formed integral therewith, is rotatablymounted within the drive housing 11 by a pair of thrust bearings 26 and27 (FIG. 2) mounted in suitable bosses 28 and 29 formed in the housing.Suitable packing elements 31 and 32, respectively, are interposedbetween each of the bosses 2S and 29 and the hub 30 externally of thebearings 26 and 27 to prevent leakage of oil from the housing 11. Asleeve 33 is mounted within the hub 30 and keyed thereto by a key 34.The sleeve 33 extends downwardly from the housing 11 and is providedwith an upwardly facing shoulder 35 abutting the lower end of the hub30. A snap ring 36 is received in a suitable groove adjacent the upperend of the sleeve 33 and abuts the upper end of the hub 30 to lock thegear against axial movement on the sleeve. The lower end of the sleeve33 is provided with an outwardly extending annular flange 37.

The cone-shaped screw assembly 12, previously mentioned, is fastened tothe flange 37 of the sleeve 33 for rotation therewith by a plurality ofcap screws 39 in the manner shown in FIG. 2. A disc 40 is interposedbetween the lower end of the sleeve 33 and the upper end of the screwassembly 12. The disc 40 is provided with a downwardly extending flange41 and an upwardly extending flange 42 at its peripheral edge. Thepurpose of these flanges will be explained hereinbelow.

The screw assembly 12 comprises an upper frustoconical member 43 (FIG.3) and a lower cylindrical member 44 fastened together, as by welding,in end-to-end relation in the manner shown in FIG. 3. As best seen inFIGS. 2 and 4, the outer surface of the upper member 43 of the screwassembly 12 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extendinggrooves 45, and with V-shaped grooves 46 at four points equally spacedabout the member 43 between the grooves 45. Two triangular-shapedflight-supporting rods 47 are received in each of the V-shaped grooves46. The upper ends of the rods are disposed behind the flange 41 on thedisc 40 (previously described), and the lower ends are locked in theV-grooves 46 by means of a clamp ring 48 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Aplurality of helical flight members 49 are fixed to the bars 47 atspaced points therealong. Each of the flight members 49 extendsapproximately one quarter of the way around the periphery of the member43, and each of the ends thereof is fixed to one of the rods 47 as seenin FIG. 1. The flights in one section tend to continue from the flightsin the section next adjacent thereto to form a double helix extendingthe length of the member 43. However, the lowermost edge of the flightsof one section are stepped vertically upward from the upper edge of theflights of the section next adjacent thereto to provide clearance for aplurality of breaker bars 50, more fully described hereinbelow. Asection of screen material 51 (FIG. 4) is interposed between the inneredge of the flights 49 and the exterior surface of the member 43 and isheld in this position by the flights 49. The outer edges of all of theflights 49 are equidistant from the axis of rotation of the screwassembly 12.

The lower cylindrical member 44 (FIGS. 3 and 5) of the screw assembly 12is provided with two outwardly extending longitudinal flanges 52 eachhaving a longitudinally extending groove 53 formed in its outer surface.A rod 54 is received in each of the grooves 53 and the upperend of therod is held in the groove by the clamp ring 48, previously described,and the lower end by a clamp ring 48a. Two flights 55 are mounted one oneach of the rods 54, and two semicylindrical screen sections 56 areinterposed between the inner edges of the flights 55 and the member 44.Two outwardly extending longtiudinal ribs 57 are provided on the member44 midway between the flanges 52 to support the mid-portions of thescreen section 56.

The previously mentioned cylindrical outer screen assembly 10 surroundsthe screw assembly 12 in coaxial relation therewith and the innersurface of the screen assembly 10 is substantially in sliding engagementwith the outer edges of the flights 49 and 55. The outer screen assembly10 comprises two complementary semicylindrical sections 59 and 60 (FIG.4). The sections 59 and 60 are mirror images of each other and,therefore, only the section 59 will be described in detail.

As seen in FIGS. 4, and 6, the outer screen assembly section 59comprises a rigid frame having three vertically extending bars 61, 62and 63. The bars 61, 62 and 63 are held in their proper spacedpositions, with the rods 61 and 63 defining each of the edges of thesection 59 and the rod 62 being disposed adjacent the mid-portionthereof, by a plurality of horizontally disposed semicircular ribs orbraces 64 which are welded to each of the bars 61, 62 and 63. Thebreaker bars 50, previously mentioned, are either cast integral with theribs 64, as shownin FIG. 7, or suitably attached thereto and extendinwardly therefrom at the points on each of said ribs midway between thebars 61 and 62 and midway between the bars 62 and 63. When the screenassembly is installed, the bars extend between the ends of theindividual flights 49. A semicylindrical section of screen material 65is fastened in any suitable manner to the inner surface of the framecomprising the rods 61, 62 and 63 and the circular ribs 64. The screenmaterial 65 is provided with suitable openings, in the manner shown inFIG. 8, to permit the breaker bars 50 to protrude therethrough. Itshould, of course, be realized that the particular mesh size of thescreen material 65 should be chosen according to the material to beprocessed in the press. It is contemplated that the screen may haveopenings as small as .025" when handling finely divided material.

As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, the vertical'bar 61 terminates short ofthe lower end of the screen section 59, and a semicircular member 66connects the lower end of the member 61 with a flange 68 at the lowerendge of the screen section 59. A semicircular opening 65a is cut inthe'screen 65 and a semicircular screen 67 connects between the edgesofthe opening 651: in the screen 65 and the member 66. The member 66,together with its complemental member on the screen section 60, definesa circular inlet opening having its axis at right angles to the screenassembly 10 are mounted on a pair of brackets 69 and 70 fixed to thevertical standard 20 at spaced points therealong and extending inwardlytherefrom toward the axis of the screw assembly 12. Each of the screensections 59 and 60 are pivotally supported by the brackets 69 and 70 byoffset arms 71 so that each section may independently be swung from itsclosed position surrounding the screw assembly 12, to an open positionexposing the screw assembly for cleaning or repair. When in. closedrelation, the screen sections 59 and 60 are latched together by aplurality of swing bolts 72 pivotally mounted on pins 73 extendingbetween spaced laterally extending flanges 74 on one of the verticalbars 61 or 63 of the sections 59 or 60, and extending between spacedlaterally extending flanges 75 on the opposing bars 61 or 63 of theother of the sections 59 or 60. The swing bolts 72 are held in theirlatching position by nuts 76 threaded thereon and abutting the lateraledges of the flanges 75.

As best seen in FIGS. .1, 3 and 5, the liquid expressed through thescreen 10, flows downwardly along the outer side of the screen and iscollected in the previously mentioned annular U-shaped trough 14 which,in turn, is provided with a discharge spout 85. The U-shaped trough 14is mounted on a subframe generally indicated at 82 with its inner wallwithin the lower end of the circular screen assembly 10 and its outerwall spaced outwardly from the outer surface thereof.

As best seen in FIG. 5, the subframe 82 comprises a bracket 77 fixed tothe vertical standard 20, a bracket 78 fixed to the vertical standard 21and a bracket 79 (FIG. 3) fixed to the standard 22. A channel member 80is fixed at its opposite ends to the brackets 78 and 79 and a secondchannel member 81 is welded at one of its ends to the central portion ofthe channel member 80 and is fixed at its other end to the bracket 77.

Referring now particularly to FiG. 3, a sleeve 83 is fixed to thesubframe 82 and extends upwardly therefrom in embracing relation withthe lower end of the screw assembly 12 to form a guide therefor. Asleeve 86 is rotatably received within the sleeve 83 and is fixed to thelower end of the screw 12 in abutting relation with the lower end of theclamp ring 48a mounted thereon, and encloses the lower end portions ofthe grooves between the flanges 52 and the ribs 57, previouslydescribed. A flat annular screen member 87 closes the annular spacebetween the upper ring of the inner wall of the annular trough 14, andthe sleeve 86. An O-ring 88 is mounted adjacent the inner edge of thescreen 87 in sealing engagement with the outer surface of the sleeve 86.A flat annular plate 89 is fixed to a flange 90 on the sleeve 83 and iswelded to the inner side of the inner wall of the trough 14 as a pointspaced downwardly from the screen 87. A suitable O-ring 91 is mountedadjacent the inner edge of the plate 89 in sealing engagement with thesleeve 86. A plurality of ports 92 in the sleeve 86 conmeet the spacesbetween the flanges 52 and the ribs 57 of the lower section 44 of thescrew assembly 12 with the space between the screen 87 and the plate 89.Similarly, a plurality of ports 93, in the inner wall of the trough 14,connect the space between the screen 87 and the plate 89 with theinterior of the trough 14. Thus, it can be seen that the eflluent forcedinwardly through the screens 51 and 56 on the screw assembly 12 willflow downwardly through the grooves 45 and the space between the flanges52 and the ribs 57 and outwardly through the ports 92 and 93 into thecollecting trough 14.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the choke assembly 16, which, aspreviously mentioned, controls the discharge of the relatively drymaterial from the upper end of the annular space between the screwassembly 12 and the screen assembly 10, comprises a choke member havingan upper cylindrical section 101 and a lower downwardly and inwardlytapered conical section 102. The conical portion 102 of the member 100is adapted to be received within the upper end of the screen assembly 10and the inner surface of the lower portion of the conical section 102 isin sliding contact with the outer surface of the upwardly extendingannular flange 42 on the member 40 previously described in connectionwith the screw assembly 12. The choke member 100 is supported by aspider assembly 103 fixed to the inner surface of the cylindricalportion 101 and slidably mounted on the exterior of the lower portion ofthe sleeve 33, previously described. A pin 104 is fixed to the hub ofthe spider 103 and extends diametrically thereof through two opposedlongitudinally extending slots 105 and 106 formed in the sleeve 33. Tworollers 107 and 108 are mounted on the pin 104 one within each of theslots 105 and 106, respectively. From. this structure it is evident thatthe choke member 100 rotates with the sleeve 33 and the screw assembly12 attached thereto, but is capable of longitudinal movement withrespect thereto to regulate the size of the discharge opening at theupper end of the screen assembly 10.

In order to provide the longitudinal movement of the choke member 100 toregulate the size of the discharge opening, a swivel head 109 is fixedto the central portion of the pin 104. The swivel head 109 is rotatablyconnected to the lower end of a shaft 110 by a suitable bearing 111. Theshaft 110 extends upwardly through the sleeve 33 and is connected to thepiston of a suitable hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 112 rigidly mountedabove the drive housing 11 in concentric relation with the sleeve 33 inthe manner shown in FIG. 1. It is evident that when the cylinder 112 isactuated, the shaft 110 will be moved upwardly or downwardly relative tothe sleeve 33 and the screw assembly 12 and thus will cause the chokemember 100 to be moved outwardly or inwardly relative to the upper endof the screen assembly 19 to regulate the discharge of the solidmaterial therefrom. It is further evident that the movement of the chokemember 100 may be readily accomplished both when the press is operatingand when it is not.

The relatively dry solids issuing from the upper end of the screenassembly 10 are guided laterally by the conical surface 102 of the chokemember 100 into the previously mentioned annular pan 15 mounted adjacentthe upper end of the screen assembly 10. The pan 15 has a bottom portion114, the inner edge of which is provided with a depending annular flange115 and an outer vertical side portion 116. A discharge chute 117 isformed integral with the pan 15. The pan 15 is supported by a pluralityof similar brackets fixed to the vertical column 20, 21 and 23,respectively. Only one of the brackets is shown at 118 in FIGS. 1 and 2of the drawings. The bracket 118 is bolted to the vertical wall 116 ofthe pan 15 by suitable bolts 119 threaded into suitable holes in thewall 116. It can be seen that by proper selection of the points at whichthe threaded holes in the wall 116 are located, the discharge chute 117may be selectively located in any orientation relative to the remainderof the machine. The depending annular flange 115 on the inner edge ofthe bottom 114 f the pan 15 is embraced by an upwardly extending annularrim 126 formed integral with a semicircular member 121 at the upper endof each of the sections 59 and 66 of the screen assembly 12.

As best seen in FIG. 2, a plurality of paddle members 122 are fixed tothe sleeve 33 between the upper end of the choke member 1530 and thelower portion of the drive housing 11. Each of the paddle members 122has a horizontally extending arm 123 which extends outwardly beyond thechoke member 190, and a downwardly depending paddle 124, connected tothe outer end thereof. The paddle 124 substantially conforms to thecross sectional configuration of the interior of the pan 15, whereby, asthe solid material is expelled from the upper end of the screen 19 intothe pan 15 by the cone surface 1112 of the choke member 190, the paddlesmove the material thus expelled around the pan 15 and into the dischargechute 117.

The drive mechanism for rotating the screw assembly 12 is bestillustrated in FIG. 9 and comprises a motor 13% mounted on a base plate131 adjustably connected to a vertical bracket 132 fixed to the uppersurface of the drive housing 11 in the manner shown in FIG. 1. Referringagain now to FIG. 9, the motor 130 has fixed thereto a pulley 133connected by a belt drive 134 to a pulley 135 fixed to a verticallydisposed shaft 136 rotatably mounted in the drive housing 11 andextending upwardly therefrom. Within the drive housing 11, a spur gear137 on the shaft 136 drives the main gear 25, previouay mentioned,through a reduction gear chain comprising gears 138, 139, 140 and 141.

In operation of the press, the motor 139 is started to commence therotation of the screw assembly 12, and the feed conveyor 13 is startedto feed the material to be pressed into the annular space between thescrew assembly 12 and the outer screen assembly 19. The flights 55 and49 urge the material upwardly between the screw and the screen. Due tothe conical shape of the upper section 43 of the screw assembly 12, thecross sectional area of the annular space between the screw assembly 12and the screen 10 is progressively reduced and therefore the material iscompressed. The liquid content of the material is expressed outwardlythrough the screen 10 and flows down the outer surface thereof and iscollected in the trough 14. Some of the fluid is expressed inwardlythrough the screens 51 and 56 on the screw assembly 12 and flowsdownwardly through the grooves -35 and ultimately into the trough 14 inthe manner heretofore described.

The relatively dry solid material is expelled from the top of the screenIt) and forced outwardly into the pan 15 by the cone surface 102 of thechoke member 100. The amount of pressure applied to the material isreadily controlled by moving the choke member toward and away from theupper end of the screen assembly 10 by proper manipulation of thehydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 112. As can be plainly seen, the chokemay readily be moved to change the pressure applied to the materialwhile the press is operating.

Since the material travels vertically upwardly through the machine, theliquid flowing downwardly over the outer surface of the screen 10 ismoving away from the previously pressed material and does not tend torewet the material as in prior vertical presses wherein both the drysolids and the liquid are discharged from the bottom of the press.

Further, since the material travels upwardly against the pull ofgravity, it is not usually necessary to prime the press by completelyclosing the choke 16 to initially build up a plug of dry solids whenstarting the press.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it is obvious that various changes may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. In an expressing press, an outer cylindrical screen mounted with itsaxis vertical, a drive housing mounted above the upper end of saidscreen, a downwardly and inwardly tapered cone rotatably supported fromsaid drive housing and extending downwardly therefrom coaxially withinsaid cylindrical screen, a plurality of longitudinally extending groovesformed in the outer surface of said cone, a plurality of flight sectionsfixed t said cone, and screen sections between the inner edges of saidflight sections and said cone and covering said grooves.

2. In an expressing press, an outer cylindrical screen mounted with itsaxis vertical, a drive housing mounted above the upper end of saidscreen, a downwardly and inwardly tapered cone rotatably supported fromsaid drive housing and extending downwardly therefrom coaxially withinsaid cylindrical screen, a plurality of longitudinally extending groovesformed in the outer surface of said cone, a plurality of longitudinallyextending bars removably secured in certain of said grooves, a pluralityof flight sections fixed to said bars, and screen sections between theinner edges of said flight sections and said cone and covering theremainder of said grooves.

3. In an expressing press, an outer cylindrical screen mounted with itsaxis vertical, a drive housing mounted above the upper end of saidscreen, a downwardly and inwardly tapered cone rotatably supported fromsaid drive housing and extending downwardly therefrom coaxially withinsaid cylindrical screen, a plurality of longitudinally extending groovesformed in the outer surface of said cone, a plurality of longitudinallyextending bars removably secured in certain of said grooves, a pluralityof flight sections fixed to said bars, screen sections between the inneredges of said flight sections and said cone and covering the remainderof said grooves, an annular trough surrounding the lower end of saidouter screen for collecting the liquid expressed therethrough andflowing down the outer side thereof, and means connecting the lower endsof the grooves in said cone with said trough for collecting the liquidexpressed inwardly through the screen sections on said cone.

4. In an expressing press, an outer cylindrical screen mounted with itsaxis vertical, a drive housing mounted.v

, tween the inner edges of said flight sections and said cone andcovering the remainder of said grooves, an annular trough surroundingthe lower end of said outer screen for collecting the liquid expressedtherethrough and flowing down the outer side thereof, means connectingthe lower ends of the grooves in said cone with said trough forcollecting the liquid expressed inwardly through the screen sections onsaid cone, a downwardly and inwardly inclined cone-shaped choke, thelower end of said choke being in sliding engagement with the upperportion of said cone adjacent the upper end of said outer screen, andmeans for moving said choke longitudinally of said cone to adjust thepressure within the press.

5. In an expressing press, an outer cylindrical screen mounted with itsaxis vertical, a .drive housing mounted above the upper end of saidscreen, a downwardly and inwardly tapered cone rotatably supported fromsaid drive housing and extending downwardly therefrom coaxially withinsaid cylindrical screen, a plurality of longitudinally extending groovesformed in the outer surface of said cone, a plurality of longitudinallyextending bars removably secured in certain of said grooves, a pluralityof flight sections fixed to said bars, screen sections between the inneredges of said flight sections and said cone and covering the remainderof said grooves, an annular trough surrounding the lower end of saidouter screen for collecting the liquid expressed therethrough andflowing down the outer side thereof, means connecting the lower ends ofthe grooves in said cone with said trough for collecting the liquidexpressed inwardly through the screen sections on said cone, adownwardly and inwardly inclined cone-shaped choke, the lower end ofsaid choke being in sliding engagement with the upper portion of saidcone adjacent the upper end of said outer screen, means for moving saidchoke longitudinally relative to said cone, and means for feedingmaterial to be pressed to the annular space between said cone and saidouter screen adjacent the lower end thereof.

6. In an expressing press, a cylindrical screen, a drive housing mountedadjacent one end of said screen, a sleeve mounted for rotation in saiddrive housing and extending therefrom coaxial with and toward saidscreen, a tapered screw mounted on the end of said sleeve and extendingtherefrom coaxially within said cylindrical screen, a cone-shaped chokeslidably mounted on said screw with its smaller end disposed toward andadjacent the said one end of said screen, a fluid actuated cylindermounted on the side of said drive housing away from said screen incoaxial relation with said sleeve, a piston in said cylinder, a pistonrod connected to said piston and extending within said sleeve, adiametrically disposed rod swivelly connected at its central portion tothe end of said piston rod, and a pair of longitudinally extendingdiametrically opposed slots in said sleeve, said diametrically disposedrod extending through said slots and being connected at its outermostends to said choke.

7. In an expressing press, a cylindrical screen mounted with its axisvertical, a drive housing mounted above the upper end of said screen, asleeve mounted for rotation in said drive housing-and extendingdownwardly there from, a downwardly and inwardly tapered screw mountedon the lower end of said sleeve and extending downwardly therefromcoaxially within said cylindrical screen, a shaft extending downwardlywithin said sleeve, a diametrically disposed rod swivelly connected tothe lower end of said shaft, a pair of longitudinally extendingdiametrically opposed slots in said sleeve, said diametrically disposedrod extending through said slots, a downwardly and inwardly inclinedcone-shaped choke fixed to the outer ends of said diametrically disposedrod, the lower end of said choke being in sliding engagement with theupper portion of said screw member adjacent the upper end of saidscreen, and means for moving said shaft longitudinally to move saidchoke relative to the upper end of said screen.

8. In an expressing press, a cylindrical screen mounted with its axisvertical, a drive housing mounted above the upper end of said screen, asleeve mounted for rotation in said drive housing and extendingdownwardly therefrom, a downwardly and inwardly tapered screw mounted onthe lower end of said sleeve and extending downwardly therefromcoaxially within said cylindrical screen, a fluid actuated cylindermounted above said drive housing in coaxial relation with said sleeve, apiston in said cylinder, a piston rod connected to said piston andextending downwardly within said sleeve, a diametrically disposed rodswivelly connected to the lower end of said piston rod, a pair oflongitudinally extending diametrically opposed slots in said sleeve,said diametrically disposed rod extending through said slots, adownwardly and inwardly inclined cone-shaped choke fixed to the outerends of said diametrically disposed rod, the lower end of said chokebeing in sliding engagement with the upper portion of said screw memberadjacent the upper end of said screen.

9. In an expressing press, a cylindrical screen mounted with its axisvertical, a drive housing mounted above the upper end of said screen, asleeve mounted for rotation in said drive housing and extendingdownwardly there from, a downwardly and inwardly tapered screw mountedon the lower end of said sleeve and extending downwardly therefromcoaxially within said cylindrical screen, a fluid actuated cylindermounted above said drive housing in coaxial relation with said sleeve, apiston in said cylinder, a piston rod connected to said piston andextending downwardly within said sleeve, a diametrically disposed rodswivelly connected to the lower end of said piston rod, a pair oflongitudinally extending diametrically opposed slots in said sleeve,said diametrically disposed rod extending through said slots, a pair ofrollers rotatably mounted on said rod, one of said rollers being locatedin each of said slots, a downwardly and inwardly inclined cone shapedchoke fixed to the outer ends of said diametrically disposed red, thelower end of said choke being in sliding engagement with the upperportion of said screw member adjacent the upper end of said screen.

10. For use in an expressing press, a screw assembly comprising, atruncated cone-shaped member, a cylindrical member connected to thesmaller end of said cone member in coaxial relation therewith, aplurality of longitudinally extending grooves in the outer surface ofeach of said members, the grooves on one of said members being inend-to-end communication with the grooves on the other of said members,a plurality of flight sections fixed to each of said members, and screensections between said flight sections and each of said members, saidscreen sections covering said grooves.

11. For use in an expressing press, a screw assembly comprising, atruncated cone-shaped member, a cylindrical member connected to thesmaller end of said cone member in coaxial relation therewith, aplurality of longitudinally extending grooves in the outer surface ofeach of said members, a plurality of longitudinally extending barsremovably secured in certain of the grooves on each of said members, aplurality of flight sections fixed to said bars, and screen sectionsbetween said flight sections and each of said members, said screensections covering the remainder of said grooves.

12. In an expressing press, an outer cylindrical screen, a drive housingmounted above the upper end of said screen, a downwardly and inwardlytapered cone rotatably supported from said drive housing and extendingdownwardly therefrom coaxially within said cylindrical screen, aplurality of longitudinally extending bars removably secured to saidcone, a plurality of material lifting flight sections fixed to saidbars, and drive means disposed in said housing and connected to saidcone to rotate said cone in a direction causing said flights to liftmaterial upwardly within said outer screen.

13. For use in an expressing press, a screw assembly comprising, atruncated cone-shaped member, a cylindrical member connected to thesmaller end of said cone member in coaxial relation therewith, meansdefining a plurality of flow passages extending longitudinally along thesurfaces of said cone member and said cylindrical member, a plurality oflongitudinally extending bars removably secured to said cone member, aplurality of flight sections fixed to said bars, and screen sectionsbetween said flight sections and each of said members and covering saidflow passages.

14. In an expressing press, a support structure, a cylindrical screen onsaid structure, a drive housing mounted adjacent one end of said screen,a drive sleeve mounted for rotation in said drive housing and extendingtherefrom coaxial with and toward said screen, a tapered screw disposedadjacent the end of said sleeve and extending therefrom coaxially withinsaid cylindrical screen, means securing the larger end of said screw tosaid sleeve for rotation therewith, a cone-shaped choke slidably mountedon said sleeve with its smaller end disposed toward and adjacent saidone end of said screen, a fluid actuated cylinder mounted in fixedposition on said support structure on the side of said drive housingaway from said screen in coaxial relation with said sleeve, a piston insaid cylinder, a piston rod disposed coaxially within said sleeve andextending from said fixed cylinder toward said screen,

said piston rod having one end connected to said piston, and meansoperatively associated with the other end of ,said piston rod extendingradially outwardly therefrom for connecting said piston rod to saidchoke, whereby admission of fluid into said fixed cylinder effectssliding movement of said choke on said drive sleeve as said piston rodmoves within said sleeve.

15. In an expressing press, a support structure, an outer cylindricalscreen mounted on said structure with its axis vertical, a drive housingmounted above the upper end of said screen, a sleeve mounted forrotation in said drive housing and extending downwardly therefrom, adownwardly and inwardly tapered screw mounted on the lower end of saidsleeve and extending downwardly therefrom coaxially within saidcylindrical screen for feeding material upwardly through the press, saidscrew cooperating with said screen to define an annular processingchamber extending from a lower inlet zone to a relatively small upperdischarge zone, means for introducing material to said lower inlet zonebetween said screw and said screen adjacent the lower ends thereofwhereby said screw moves the material upwardly through said chamber anddischarges the solids from said discharge zone at the upper end of saidscreen, a choke adjustably mounted on said sleeve adjacent said upperdischarge zone of said processing chamber, and means for adjustablymoving said choke.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS488,956 Sobotka et a1. Dec. 27, 1892 731,734 Anderson June 23, 1903742,971 Cummer Nov. 3, 1903 1,354,528 Wertenbruch Oct. 5, 1920 2,340,009Meakin Jan. 25, 1944 2,419,545 Gray et a1 Apr. 29, 1947 2,709,957Armstrong June 7, 1955 2,747,499 Beeman 7 May 29, 1956

